Method of conducting a poker game with a value-bearing card

ABSTRACT

A method for conducting a wagering game on a gaming terminal includes displaying a plurality of symbol-bearing objects from a group of objects to form a user-playable hand. The group of objects includes at least one value symbol-bearing object. In response to the value symbol-bearing object appearing in the user-playable hand, a player is provided with the ability to select between (i) a first option to take the value associated with the- value symbol-bearing object and end the wagering game, and (ii) a second option to continue the wagering game.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser.No. 60/588,511, filed on Jul. 16, 2004. The disclosure of theaforementioned provisional application is incorporated by reference inits entirety herein.

COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patentdisclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patentfiles or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rightswhatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to wagering games and, moreparticularly, to a poker game having a value object as one of theplaying cards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gaming terminals, such as slot machines, video poker machines and thelike, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for many years.Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent onthe likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the gamingterminal and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relativeto other available gaming options. Where the available gaming optionsinclude a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning oneach machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), playersare most likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and excitingmachines. Shrewd operators constantly strive to employ the mostentertaining and exciting machines available, because such machinesattract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator.

On traditional gaming machines having multiple rounds, a player may beoffered a “buy-out” to end the game immediately and take the buy-outoffer, generally an award of credits on the gaming machine. This buy-outis based on the expected or anticipated value of the cards dealt to theplayer in the first round, assuming the player were to continue the gameto completion. Once a buy-out is offered, the player may then eithertake the buy-out and the current game will terminate or the player maydecline the buy-out and the game will proceed to its completion.Traditionally, when the game proceeds, the player has lost his abilityto collect the buy-out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method forconducting a wagering game is disclosed. The method comprises displayinga plurality of symbol-bearing objects to form a user-playable hand,wherein the plurality of symbol-bearing objects are selected from astandard set of objects and the standard set of objects contains atleast one value symbol-bearing object. The method further comprisesproviding the ability to discard, via player selection, one or more ofthe displayed symbol-bearing objects from the user-playable hand. Themethod further comprises replacing each of the discarded symbol-bearingobjects, if any, with a replacement symbol-bearing object from thestandard set of objects and displaying the replacement symbol-bearingobject to form a second user-playable hand. The method further comprisesawarding the player a payoff based on a ranking of the seconduser-playable hand in response to the second user-playable hand meetinga predetermined criterion. An additional payoff is awarded if at leastone of the at least one value symbol-bearing objects forms the seconduser-playable hand.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method forconducting a wagering game is disclosed. The method comprises displayinga plurality of symbol-bearing objects from a group of objects to form auser-playable hand. The group of objects includes at least one valuesymbol-bearing object. The method further comprises, in response to thevalue symbol-bearing object appearing in the user-playable hand,providing a player with the ability to select between (i) a first optionto take the value associated with the value symbol-bearing object andend the wagering game, and (ii) a second option to continue the wageringgame.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a gamingsystem capable of conducting a wagering game is disclosed. The systemcomprises a main display for displaying a plurality of symbol-bearingobjects from a set of objects to form a first user-playable hand. Theset of objects includes at least one value symbol-bearing object. Thesystem further comprises an input device for allowing the player toselect between at least two options in response to the valuesymbol-bearing object appearing in the first user-playable hand. Theplayer may use the input device to select between (i) a first option totake the value associated with the value symbol-bearing card and end thewagering game and (ii) a second option to continue the wagering game.The input device being adapted to provide the player with the ability todiscard and replace, via player selection, one or more of the objectsfrom the first user-playable hand to form a second user-playable hand.The system further comprises a processor coupled to the input device andthe main display and operative to (i) form a best hand from the seconduser-playable hand and (ii) award a payoff based on the value associatedwith the value symbol-bearing object, in response to a player selectingthe first option to take the value.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method forconducting a wagering game is disclosed. The method comprises receivinga wager from a player to play the game. The method further comprisesdisplaying a plurality of symbol-bearing objects to form a user-playablehand. The plurality of symbol-bearing objects are selected from astandard set of objects and the standard set of objects contains atleast one value symbol-bearing object. The method further comprisesproviding the ability to discard, via player selection, one or more ofthe displayed symbol-bearing objects from the user-playable hands. Themethod further comprises replacing each of the discarded symbol-bearingobjects, if any, with a replacement symbol-bearing object from thestandard set of objects, the newly-displayed plurality of symbol-bearingobjects forming a second user-playable hand. The method furthercomprises providing the ability to award a total payoff when at leastone of the at least one value symbol-bearing objects is displayed. Thetotal payoff is determined by the combination of (a) a basic payoffbased on a ranking of the second user-playable hand with a predeterminedcriterion, and (b) a value of the at least one value symbol-bearingobjects.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, a methodfor conducting a wagering game is disclosed. The method comprisesreceiving a wager from a player to play the wagering game. The methodfurther comprises, in response to receiving a wager, displaying aplurality of cards from a deck of cards to form a first user-playablehand. The deck of cards includes at least one value symbol-bearing card.The method further comprises, in response to the value symbol-bearingcard appearing in the first user-playable hand, providing the playerwith the ability to select between (i) a first option to take the valueassociated with the value symbol-bearing card and end the wagering gameand (ii) a second option to continue the wagering game. The methodfurther comprises providing the ability to discard, via playerselection, one or more of the cards from the first user-playable hand.The method further comprises replacing each of the discarded cards, ifany, with a displayed replacement card from the deck of cards to form asecond user-playable hand. The method further comprises providing anaward, if any, associated with said second user playable hand.

The above summary of the present invention is not intended to representeach embodiment, or every aspect, of the present invention. Additionalfeatures and benefits of the present invention are apparent from thedetailed description, figures, and claims set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming terminal according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a control system that is used in conjunction with thegaming terminal of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an image of a main poker game screen that is displayed on thegaming terminal of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram detailing a method of operation for a wageringgame, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. Itshould be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to belimited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gamingterminal 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Thegaming machine 10 is operable to conduct a wagering game. With regard tothe present invention, the gaming terminal 10 may be any type of gamingterminal and may have varying structures and methods of operation.

The gaming terminal 10 includes input devices, such as a wager acceptor16, a touch screen 21, a push-button panel 22, and aplayer-identification card reader 24. For outputs, the gaming terminal10 includes a payout mechanism 23, a main display 26 for displayinginformation about a basic wagering game such as video poker and asecondary display 27 for displaying additional information, and anoutput receptacle 28 coupled to the payout mechanism 23 for providingtokens or coins to the player when the player selects to cash out. Whilethese typical components found in the gaming terminal 10 are describedbelow, it should be understood that numerous other elements may existand may be used in any number of combinations to create various forms ofa gaming terminal.

The wager acceptor 16 may be provided in many forms, individually or incombination. The wager acceptor 16 may include one or both of a coinslot acceptor or a currency note acceptor to input value to the gamingterminal 10. Additionally, the wager acceptor 16 may include acard-reading device for reading a card that has a recorded monetaryvalue with which it is associated. The card may also authorize access toa central account, which can transfer money to the gaming terminal 10.

The payout mechanism 23 performs the reverse functions of the wageracceptor 16. For example, the payout mechanism 23 may include a coindispenser or a note dispenser to output value from gaming terminal 10.Also, the payout mechanism 23 may be adapted to receive a card thatauthorizes the gaming terminal to transfer credits from the gamingterminal 10 to a central account.

The push button panel 22 is typically offered, in addition to the touchscreen 21, to provide players with an option of how to make their gameselections. Alternatively, the push button panel 22 provides inputs forone aspect of operating the game, while the touch screen 21 allows forinputs needed for another aspect of operating the game.

The operation of the basic wagering game is displayed to the player onthe main display 26. The main display 26 and the secondary display 27may take the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a high resolution LCD, aplasma display, LED, or any other type of video display suitable for usein the gaming terminal 10. As shown, the main display 26 includes atouch screen 21 overlaying the entire monitor (or a portion thereof) toallow players to make game-related selections. Similarly, a touch screenmay overlay the secondary display 27.

The player-identification card reader 24 allows for the identificationof a player by reading a card with information indicating the player'strue identity. Currently, the identification is used by casinos forrewarding certain players with complimentary services or special offers.For example, a player may be enrolled in the gaming establishment'splayers' club and may be awarded certain complimentary services as thatplayer collects points in the player's player-tracking account. Theplayer inserts the player's card into the player-identification cardreader 24, which allows the casino's computers to register that player'swagering at the gaming terminal 10.

Referring also to FIG. 2, the various components of the gaming terminal10 are controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) 30 (such as amicroprocessor or microcontroller). To provide the gaming functions, theCPU 30 executes a game program. The CPU 30 is also communicativelycoupled to or includes a system memory 32. The system memory 32 maycomprise a volatile memory 33 (e.g., a random-access memory, “RAM”) anda non-volatile memory 34 (e.g., an EEPROM). It should be appreciatedthat the CPU 30 may include one or more microprocessors. Similarly, thememory 32 may include multiple RAM and multiple program memories. Toprovide gaming functions, the CPU 30 (or other controller) executes oneor more game programs stored in a computer readable storage medium, inthe form of the system memory 32.

Communications between the peripheral components of the gaming terminal10 and the CPU 30 occur through input/output (I/O) circuits 35 a. Assuch, the CPU 30 also controls and receives inputs from the peripheralcomponents of the gaming terminal 10. Further, the CPU 30 communicateswith external systems via the I/O circuits 35 b. Although the I/Ocircuits 35 may be shown as a single block, it should be appreciatedthat the I/O circuits 35 may include a number of different types of I/Ocircuits.

The gaming terminal 10 is typically operated as part of a game controlnetwork 40 having control circuitry and memory devices, wherein aplurality of gaming terminals are coupled to the game control network40. The game control network 40 can be the game controller that controlsoperation of the wagering game as described below. The processor,memory, or both may be remotely located on the game control network 40.For example, instead of the CPU 30, the game control network 40 maydetermine the random outcomes for games conducted on the gamingterminal(s) 10. Alternatively, the CPU 30 randomly determines the gameoutcomes.

The gaming terminal 10 often has multiple serial ports, each portdedicated to providing data to a specific host computer system thatperforms a specific function (e.g., accounting system, player-trackingsystem, etc.). To set up a typical serial communication hardware link tothe host system, the typical RS-232 point-to-point communicationprotocol that is often present in the gaming terminal 10 is converted toan RS-485 (or RS-485-type) master-slave protocol so as to take advantageof some of the benefits of the RS-485 capability (e.g., multi-dropcapability that allows many gaming terminals 10 to communicate with thegame control network 40). To perform this function, a custom interfaceboard may be used by the gaming terminal 10 for each communication portin the gaming terminal 10. It should be noted that the gaming terminal10 can initially be designed to be configured for a typical RS-485protocol, instead of the typical RS-232 protocol. Further, the gamingterminal 10 may simply be designed for an Ethernet connection to thegame control network 40.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an image of a video poker game screen 50 whichcan be displayed on the main video display 26 is illustrated, accordingto one embodiment of the present invention. A player begins play of thebasic wagering game by inserting a wager input into the wager inputaccepter 16 of the gaming terminal 10. A player can select play byeither using the touch screen 21 or push-button panel 22. The CPU 30, orthe wagering game control network 40 in alternative embodiments,operates to execute a wagering game program causing the main videodisplay 26 to display the wagering game that includes a plurality ofvisual elements.

According to one embodiment, a video poker game is preferably playedwith a single standard 52-card deck (i.e., Ace through King of fourdifferent suits). The standard 52-card deck may then be supplementedwith one value symbol-bearing object (in the illustrated example, avalue card). According to another embodiment, a card is selected fromthe single standard 52-card deck, and the selected card serves as thevalue object. However, a poker game may be played with any number ofdecks and/or with a variety of different card compositions (e.g.,additional value objects, wild cards, etc.).

According to one embodiment, during a particular poker hand, all of thecards are dealt from the same deck. After a card is dealt from the deckinto the poker hand, the card is “used up” and cannot appear again untilthe next poker hand. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the valueobject is allowed to be reincorporated into the deck and may reappear inthe same game. The deck may be replenished and randomly shuffled priorto every poker hand. The system memory 32 includes a data structure forstoring data representing each card of the deck including the valueobject. The CPU 30 randomly selects cards for each poker hand from thedata structure and controls the main video display 26 to display thecards.

It should also be understood that the present invention is not limitedsolely to one or more decks of cards and may be instituted by using anytype of symbol-bearing objects, such as, for example, dice, tiles,chips, marbles, wheels, flipped coins, reels that are spun, etc.

An image of a video poker game screen can be seen in FIG. 3. The mainpoker game screen 50 featuring a five-card draw poker game in theillustrated embodiment may be displayed on the main video display 26. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the main poker game screen 50 is used todisplay a user-playable hand 54 composed of a plurality of cards 54 a-e.The main poker game screen 50 also displays a plurality of hold buttons56 a-e for allowing a player to select a card to hold, a pay table 58,game session meters, and various buttons selectable by a player.

The game session meters include: a “credits” meter 60 for displaying anumber of credits available for play on the machine; a “bet” meter 62for displaying a number of credits wagered (e.g., from 1 to 5 credits);and a “paid” meter 64 for displaying an amount to be awarded based onthe results of the particular rounds outcome. The player-selectablebuttons include a “collect” button 70 to collect the credits remainingin the credits meter 60; a “help” button 72 for viewing instructions onhow to play the video poker game; a “max bet” button 74 for wagering amaximum number of credits (e.g., 5 credits); a “take value” button 76for allowing a user to take the value associated with a displayed valueobject; a “deal” button 78 for causing the game to initially deal cardsfrom a deck into the user-playable hand 54 face-up; and a “draw” button80 for causing the game to replace any non-held card in theuser-playable hand 54 with another card from the deck.

The pay table 58, shown on the main display 26, may also oralternatively be displayed on the secondary screen 27. The pay table 58includes a list of winning poker hand rankings 82 and a payout column 84with payouts associated with each ranking. The number of credits won islinearly proportional to the number of credits wagered, except that aroyal flush typically yields a bonus when achieved on a maximum wager.The list of winning poker hand rankings 82 includes standard poker handrankings beginning at a pair of jacks or better and including handsthrough a royal flush.

As will be explained in more detail with respect to FIG. 4, in afive-card draw poker game, five cards 54 a-e are displayed face-up to aplayer to form a first user-playable hand. The player is able to selectnone, one, or a plurality of the cards 54 a-e in the user-playable handto discard. Any discarded card is then replaced to form a seconduser-playable hand. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a value object, the card54 d in the illustrated embodiment, may be part of the user-playablehand. The value object is used to provide a player the possibility of analternative, or additional, payoff for the wagering game. For example,in one embodiment, a player may select to either: (1) keep the valueobject and end the game; or (2) continue the game and discard the valueobject. In another embodiment, the player may also select to keep thevalue object and continue the game

At the end of the wagering game, the best poker hand is determined fromthe second user-playable hand and a player is awarded a primary payoffas displayed in the pay table 58 if the ranking of the hands meets thepredetermined criteria displayed in the pay table 58. In embodimentswhere the player is allowed, and has chosen, to keep the value objectand continue the wagering game, a hand ranking is determined from areduced user-playable hand having only four cards in the illustrativeembodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the reduced user-playablehand includes cards 54 a, 54 b, 54 c, and 54 e. Thus, in embodimentswhere a reduced user-playable hand is ranked, players may preventthemselves from establishing certain hands (e.g., straight, flush,full-house, etc.) to ensure that they are awarded at least the value ofthe value object they have kept.

The value object may be for a value that is predetermined based on theparticular wager a player has made, or may be randomly generated from apredetermined range of values. The value object may provide the playeran award of credits, free games, bonus games, prizes, tokens, a spin onan award wheel or reel, etc. The value object may also award the playera multiplier based on the primary payoff table. In this alternative, if,for example, a player would normally receive a primary payoff of 100credits for a four of a kind, and the multiplier were a 3× multiplier,the player would receive 300 credits for the reduced user-playablehand's four of a kind with the value object multiplier.

In other embodiments, a value card may be selected from one of thestandard 52 cards, for example, the Ace of Spades. In these embodiments,if the player is provided the option of keeping the value card andcontinuing play, a player could collect on the value card while stillbeing able to form standard five-card poker hands. This embodiment ofthe game is particularly favorable for use in association with the valuecard being a multiplier.

Turning now to FIG. 4, the operation detailing the method of playing thegame according to one embodiment of the invention will be described. Instep s100, a player at the gaming terminal 10 begins a gaming session byany conventional method (e.g., inserting coins or using credits). Theplayer then selects an amount to wager on the upcoming user-playablehand at step s104. Once the total wager has been made by the player, afirst user-playable hand is displayed at step s106. According to oneembodiment, the first user-playable hand comprises a plurality ofplaying cards and possibly a value object. According to anotherembodiment, the first user-playable hand comprises a plurality ofsymbol-bearing objects and possibly a value symbol-bearing object.

After the first user-playable hand has been displayed, a determinationis made as to whether a value object is present within the hand at steps108. If a value object is not present within the first hand, the gameproceeds to step s110 to allow a player to select cards to discard fromthe first user-playable hand. A player is allowed to select either none,one or any plurality of the cards that form the first user-playablehand. A player may choose the cards to discard by utilizing the holdbuttons 56 a-e on the touch screen 21 (or similar buttons on the pushbutton panel 22) associated with the cards 54 a-e. A player selects thehold button for each of the cards the player would like to keep in theirhand. The selection of a card to hold may be represented to a player by,for example, displaying “Held” in the displayed hold buttons 56 a-e. Aplayer then selects the draw button 80 to replace the non-selected cardswith new cards from the deck at step s112, forming a seconduser-playable hand.

A best hand is then ranked at step s114. The best hand is formed bycombining the cards forming the second user-playable hand to form thehighest possible ranking included within pay table 58, if such a handcan be formed. At decision box s116, a determination is made as towhether the best hand meets a predetermined criteria (e.g., a paytable). If the best hand meets the criteria, a primary payoff is awardedat step s118 and the player is prompted to initiate a new game at steps120. If the best hand does not meet the criteria no payoff is awardedand the player is prompted to initiate a new game at step s120.

Alternatively, if at decision box s108, a value object is present withinthe first user-playable hand, a player may chose to take the valueassociated with the value object by selecting the take value button 76on the touch screen 21 (or a similar button on the push button panel22). At decision box s122, a determination is made as to whether theplayer has chosen to take the value associated with the value object. Ifthe player has chosen to take the value, the player is awarded the valueof the value object at step s136 and the player is prompted to initiatea new game at step s120. If the player does not chose to take the valueof the value object, the game proceeds to step s124.

At step s124, the player is allowed to select cards to discard from thefirst user-playable hand. A player is allowed to select either none, oneor any plurality of the cards that form the first user-playable hand. Inone embodiment, when a player does not select to take the value of thevalue object at decision box s122, the value object is automaticallydiscarded and may not be kept. In another embodiment, the player mayselect to discard the value object or may keep the value object.

Once a player has selected which cards to discard and then selected thedraw button 80, the non-selected cards are replaced with replacementcards, at step s126, to form a second user-playable hand. At decisionbox s128, a determination is made as to whether the value object ispresent in the second user-playable hand. If the value object is notpresent, the game proceeds to step s114 and continues through step s120as discussed above. If the value object is present within the seconduser-playable hand, the game proceeds to step s130 where a ranking forthe best hand is determined.

For five-card draw poker embodiments in which the value object isdistinct from a standard 52 card deck, the best hand is formed from areduced user-playable hand. The reduced user-playable hand is formed byremoving the value object from the second user-playable hand. Forfive-card draw poker embodiments where the value object is a card withinthe standard 52 card deck, the best hand may be formed from the seconduser-playable hand (according to one method) or from the reduceduser-playable hand (according to another method).

At decision box s132, a determination is made as to whether the besthand meets a predetermined criteria (e.g., a pay table). If the besthand meets the criteria, a primary payoff is awarded at step s134 andthe value of the value object is awarded at step s136. The player isprompted to initiate a new game at step s120. If the best hand does notmeet the criteria, the value of the value object is awarded and theplayer is prompted to initiate a new game at step s120.

Though the above examples illustrate a user-playable hand including fiveplaying cards, it should be apparent that the present invention is notlimited only to such embodiments. Additionally, a plurality ofuser-playable hands may be displayed for a player to wager upon. Thenumber of user-playable hands is only limited by the number of cardswhich comprise the deck to be displayed. Where a larger number ofuser-playable hands are desired, a plurality of decks of cards may becombined to form the desired hands.

It should be understood from the above that the value object could beable to be displayed on the initial deal, the draw, either or both.Additionally, according to one embodiment, when the value objectpresented on the draw and then discarded by the player, it is “used-up”for that particular game. Alternatively, in embodiments where the valueobject can be displayed on both the deal and the draw, the value objectmay be reincorporated into the partial deck and may, if randomlyselected, be represented on the draw.

It should be understood that the above invention is not limited to avideo poker system and may be instituted on a standard casino table oranother means sufficient to conduct the above described wagering game.

While the present invention has been described with reference to one ormore particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognizethat many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention. Each of these embodiments andobvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the scopeof the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

1. A method of conducting a wagering game, comprising: displaying aplurality of symbol-bearing objects to form a user-playable hand,wherein the plurality of symbol-bearing objects are selected from astandard set of objects and the standard set of objects contains atleast one value symbol-bearing object; providing the ability to discard,via player selection, one or more of the displayed symbol-bearingobjects from the user-playable hand; replacing each of the discardedsymbol-bearing objects, if any, with a replacement symbol-bearing objectfrom the standard set of objects and displaying the replacementsymbol-bearing object to form a second user-playable hand; awarding theplayer a payoff based on a ranking of the second user-playable hand inresponse to the second user-playable hand meeting a predeterminedcriterion, wherein an additional payoff is awarded if at least one ofthe at least one value symbol-bearing object forms the seconduser-playable hand.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the valuesymbol-bearing object can be displayed when the plurality ofsymbol-bearing objects is displayed, and where the value symbol-bearingobject can replace one of the discarded symbol-bearing objects if thevalue symbol-bearing object was not displayed with the plurality ofsymbol-bearing objects.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the valuesymbol-bearing object is displayed when the plurality of symbol-bearingobjects is displayed.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the valuesymbol-bearing object reenters the standard set of objects upon beingdiscarded.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the value symbol-bearingobject does not reenter the standard set of objects immediately uponbeing discarded, the value symbol-bearing object reentering the standardset of objects after the wagering game has ranked the seconduser-playable hand.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the valuesymbol-bearing object can only be displayed when the plurality ofsymbol-bearing objects is displayed.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinthe value of the value symbol-bearing object is predetermined based on awager received from a player to play the wagering game.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the value of the value symbol-bearing object israndomly generated from a plurality of predetermined values.
 9. Acomputer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directinga gaming device to perform the method of claim
 1. 10. A method ofconducting a wagering game, comprising: displaying a plurality ofsymbol-bearing objects from a group of objects to form a user-playablehand, wherein the group of objects includes at least one valuesymbol-bearing object; in response to the value symbol-bearing objectappearing in the user-playable hand, providing a player with the abilityto select between (i) a first option to take the value associated withthe value symbol-bearing object and end the wagering game, and (ii) asecond option to continue the wagering game.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the second option to continue the wagering game does not allowthe player to collect the value associated with the value symbol-bearingobject when the second option is selected.
 12. The method of claim 11further comprising providing the player with the ability to select athird option to continue the wagering game and collect the valueassociated with the value symbol-bearing object at the end of thewagering game.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the symbol-bearingobjects are cards and the group of objects is a deck of cards.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the deck of cards is a standard 52 card deckand at least one card is removed from the standard 52 card deck and isreplaced by the at least one value symbol-bearing object.
 15. The methodof claim 13, wherein the deck of cards is a standard 52 card deck and atleast one card from the standard 52 card deck is selected to be the atleast one value symbol-bearing object.
 16. The method of claim 13,wherein the deck of cards is a standard 52 card deck and the at leastone value symbol-bearing object is added to the standard deck.
 17. Acomputer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directinga gaming device to perform the method of claim
 10. 18. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the value associated with the value symbol-bearingcard is for one or more free wagering games.
 19. The method of claim 10,wherein the value associated with the value symbol-bearing card is forat least one opportunity to play a bonus game.
 20. A gaming systemcapable of conducting a wagering game, the system comprising: a maindisplay for displaying a plurality of symbol-bearing objects from a setof objects to form a first user-playable hand, wherein the set ofobjects includes at least one value symbol-bearing object; an inputdevice for allowing the player to select between at least two options inresponse to the value symbol-bearing object appearing in the firstuser-playable hand, wherein the player may use the input device toselect between (i) a first option to take the value associated with thevalue symbol-bearing card and end the wagering game and (ii) a secondoption to continue the wagering game, the input device being adapted toprovide the player with the ability to discard and replace, via playerselection, one or more of the objects from the first user-playable handto form a second user-playable hand; and a processor coupled to theinput device and the main display and operative to (i) form a best handfrom the second user-playable hand, and (ii) award a payoff based on thevalue associated with the value symbol-bearing object, in response to aplayer selecting the first option to take the value.
 21. The gamingsystem of claim 20, wherein the value associated with the valuesymbol-bearing object is predetermined.
 22. The gaming system of claim21, wherein the value is predetermined based on the number of creditswagered by the player.
 23. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein thevalue associated with the value symbol-bearing card is randomlyselected.
 24. The gaming system of claim 20, further comprising aninterface with a network, wherein the processor is located on thenetwork.